State v. Johnson

Justice Dirk Sandefur delivered the Opinion of the Court.

***171¶1 Defendant Todd Michael Johnson appeals his judgment of conviction on jury verdict in the Montana Thirteenth Judicial District Court, Yellowstone County, on the offense of partner or family member assault (PFMA), a felony. We address the following dispositive issue on appeal:

Whether the District Court abused its discretion in denying Johnson's motion to excuse a prospective juror for cause?

¶2 We reverse and remand for a new trial.

BACKGROUND

¶3 Based on an alleged assault on May 29, 2014, the State of Montana charged Johnson with…